Schlichter warns Commerzbank of liability risks

Frankfurt From the point of view of an ombudsman for private banks, the IT problems of Commerzbank and its online brand Comdirect do not excuse delays in the preparation of annual tax statements.

This emerges from an arbitration award in favor of a Comdirect customer, which is available to the Handelsblatt. In it he also warns the institute against liability claims by its customers.

According to the decision of October 20, 2022, the Comdirect must “immediately prepare the annual tax certificate for this customer for the year 2021”. The ombudsman also points out that the deadline for the income tax return for everyone who Submit your tax return without a tax advisor or wage tax assistance association.

“The deadline for submission is imminent, so the bank is now obliged to react immediately. This is all the more true as the applicant expects a refund,” the arbitrator had urged.

For months, the bank has justified its difficulties with technical problems caused by a system change. The institute argued to the arbitrator that manual troubleshooting was not possible.